Detecting mechanism for fire alarm box



Nov. 17, 1942.

A. M. ZAMBORSKY DETEGTING MECHANISM FOR FIRE ALARM BOX Filed July 17. 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet J.v

1NVENT0R ANDREW M. zAMBoRsKY.-

' ATTORNEY.

Nov. 17, 1942. A. M. zAMBoRsKY DETECTING MECHANISM'FOR FIRE ALARM BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1940 mw. m ws m WDR o mm. m m A z M. QV. a w m R ,M n ad A Y B 5 m 647 Lv/VV E44 Nov. 17, 1942. A. M. zAMBoRskY DETEGTING MECHANISM FOR FIRE ALARM BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENToR ANDREW M. zAMoRsKY.

Filed July 17, 1940 ATTORNEY.

Wil

Patented Nov. 17, 1942 DETECTING FOR FIRE ALARM O Andrew M. Zamborsky, Cleveland, Ohio Application July 17, 1940, Serial No. 346,061

(Cl. ITI- 379) S Claims.

This invention relates to the mechanism at a signaling station, from which point the existence of an emergency condition may be signaled to a central station. The invention relates more particularly to detecting or tell-tale means operatively connected to or Aincorporated in a signaling mechanism, whereby the person operating the latter may be readily identified.

In the preferred application of the invention, it is disclosed herein in connection with a signaling mechanism for calling a re department in the case of a fire, it being a frequent occurrence for persons, for one emotional purpose or another, to turn in an alarm (commonly termed a false alarm), the effect of which is to incur much expense to the re department, and cause other undesirable conditions.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved signaling mechanism having a detect ing means, parts of which automatically engage with and become locked to the hand or wrist of the person when operating the mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved signaling mechanism having a p-air of relatively removable elements which become locked together in surrounding relation to the hand or wrist of the person when operating the mechanism and which can only be released and removed by an authorized person.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved detecting means which may be attached or operatively connected to a signaling mechanism and having parts which become removably attached to the hand of the person operating the mechanism, whereby such person may be identified.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a combined signaling mechanism and detecting means embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig, 3 is a View similar to Fig. l, but showing the closure open.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the position of the detecting means after operation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are a section on the lines 6 5 I-'l and 8-8, respectively, of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a detail View.

Fig. 10 is a view of the wrist gripping members Y ISO (partly in section on the line IU-IO of Fig. 5) showing the locking dogs in position.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the locking dog retracted,

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of the carrier.

Fig. 13 is a view illustrating the removal of the gripping members from the carrier and casing.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of the gripping members in operated locked-together position.

Fig. 15 is a perspective View showing the gripping members in position on a persons wrist.

The detecting or identifying means herein disclosed may be incorporated with the emergency signaling means, but by preference I have so mounted the detecting means that it may be readily applied to various standardized types of signaling means and the housings therefor. In carrying out this arrangement, the detecting or identifying means are mounted in a compartment A, which is substituted for the door of the compartment B in which the signaling means is housed, and are operatively connected to the pull-down lever or operating element l of the signaling means, the compartment A being hinged on the hinge knuckles bl of the compartment B, whereby the compartment A may be swung away from the compartment B to permit ready access thereinto and resetting of a carrier (later referred to) and replacement of the wrist gripping members on the carrier. As will be understood from Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the compartment A is shaped to mount and enclose the identifying means and also to form the front Wall of the compartment B, to which it is locked, as indicated at a and thus enclose and make a hand operating device (later referred to) for operating the element I inaccessible except through an opening 2 formed in the front Wall 2a of the compartment A. The signaling means (not shown) housed in the compartment B may consist of a wireless transmitter or other desirable construction suitably connected with a central station (for example, the city fire department). The opening 2 is normally closed by a closure 3, preferably hinged along its lower end to the wall 2a and held in closed position by a spring catch 3a. The compartment B may be mounted on a suitable support, such as a post C.

4 indicates as an entirety a carrier having side members 4a, disposed at opposite sides of the opening 2, a cross bar 4b extending between the lower end portions of the side members 4a and a thrust rod 4c depending from the cross bar 4b and formed at its lower end with a recess to provide a shoulder 4c with which a spring operated latch or bolt 5 engages to lock the carrier in elevated or set position (see Figs. 5 and 6), as later set forth. The cross bar 4b is provided with inwardly extending arms 4b bent upwardly at their outer ends, the bar and arms forming a seat or cradle for the lower wrist gripping member, as later set forth. The parts of the carrier 4 above referred to are preferably formed integrally. The side members 4a of the carrier 4 are formed with slots 4a', into which projects pins 6 mounted on the inner side of the wall 2a, the pins 6 forming guides for the carrier 4 to slidably support it upon the inner side of the wall 2a. Certain or all of the pins 5 are provided with heads, which overlap the walls of the slots 4a. so as to maintain the carrier 4 in sliding relation to the wall 2a. 'I indicates springs secured at corresponding ends to lugs 8 projecting laterally from the carrier side members 4a and suitably anchored at their opposite ends on the wall 2a and are arranged to be put under tension when the carrier 4 is elevated and locked in set position by the latch 5, so that upon the release or retraction of the latter, the carrier is forced downwardly with a quick movement.

9, Ii), indicate a pair of upper and lower wrist gripping members the opposed walls of which are concaved as shown at 9a, lila, respectively,

so as to iit over a persons wrist zu, as shown in full lines in Fig, 4 and dotted lines in Fig. 6. The wrist gripping member 9 comprises a cross member 9b provided on its inner side with the wrist engaging wall 9a and side members or legs 9c each provided on and along its inner wall with a ratchet 9. The gripping member I9 is of sectional construction to form within it a chamber II to enclose a locking means, indicated as an entirety at I2, the sections of the gripping member I 9 being secured together in a manner which makes the parts of the locking means inaccessible, but operable by an authorized person, as later set forth. The means for securing the Ysections together may consist of a plurality of screws I3, the heads of which are removed after assembly of the locking means I2 in the chamber II and the sections of the gripping member. These sections also form between them guide ways I4 in and through which the legs 9c move l when the carrier 4 is released and operated by the springs 1, as shown in dotted lines in Fig, 6.

vThe locking means I2 comprise a pair of dogs I5 slidably fitting laterally extending slots I Ia. leading from the chamber II to the guide ways I4, the dogs I5 being normally biased outwardly by springs I6 so as to engage the ratchets 9 on the legs Sc, The inner ends of the springs I5 abut a sleeve I'I suitably secured in an opening IIlb formed in the inner wall of the chamber II, the s leeve Il rotatably supporting a barrel I provided on its inner end with a wing or cam I9 which ts within openings I5@ formed in the inner ends of the dogs I5. As will be understood from Figs, 5, 7, 10 and 11, the inner portions of the dogs I5 are cut away so that their inner ends may have an overlapping slidable relation to permit the cam I9 to extend into both openings I5a, the cam and Walls of the openings` I5a having a co-acting relation so that in one position of the cam (see Fig. 10) the dogs I5 are acted upon by their springs I5 and biased outwardly to engage the ratchets 9 and automatically lock the member 9 to the member IB upon movement of the member 9 with the carrier 4 and in the other position of the cam I9 (see Fig. 11) the dogs l5 are retracted in opposition to their springs I6, whereby the member 9 may be released from the member I9. The operation of the barrel I3 to either position may be controlled by a combination type of lock, but by preference I employ a key operated lock of any desired construction, the ke'y therefor being kept at the iire department, by a member thereof or the police, who may unlock the gripping members from the wrist of the person who has operated the signaling means.

The gripping members 9, I9, are removably mounted on the carrier 4, after the carrier 4 is elevated and set by the latch or bolt 5 (see Figs. 5 and 6) In positioning the members 9, I9, the gripping member 9 is first extended relative to the member I9 and the locking means I2 are operated to release the dogs I5 for engagement with the ratchets 9', as shown in Fig. 10. The members 9, I0, are then placed in position, the member II! on the seat formed by the cross bar 4b and arms 4b and the cross member 9b behind an angle 29 provided on the Wall 2a above the opening 2. To support the upper end of the member 9 in engagement with the angle 20, I provide laterally extending lugs 2| which rest on pads 22 extending inwardly from the carrier side members 4a. To connect the gripping member 9 to the carrier 4 for movement therewith I form in the legs 9c thereof notches 23.which detachably engage the walls 4 of the cross bar 4b, whereas to prevent movement of the gripping member I Il downwardly with the carrier 4 I form in its outer wall conical recesses 24 to receive pins 25 provided on the wall 2a adjacent to the lower side of the opening 2,

The latch or bolt 5 slides in a casing 25 suitably supported on the bottom wall of the compartment A. The rear end of the latch is provided with a rod 26a which slides through an opening formed in the rear wall of the casing 25, a coiled spring 21 surrounding the rod 29a and interposed between said wall and the rear end of the latch normally serves to bias the latch 5 outwardly so that when the carrier 4 is elevated, the latch drops into the recess in the rod 4c below the wall 4c' to lock the carrier in raised position. The casing 26 is formed with a recess 25h to accommodate a lug 25e which is arranged to engage the outer end wall of the recess and limit the outward movement of the latch 5. The latch 5 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 28 the rear wall of which is shaped to form a cam 29a which is engaged by a projection 29 provided on a link 39 and operable through a slot Sila formed in the top wall of the casing 25. The link 3i) is pivoted on a standard 3i preferably mounted on the top wall of the casing 25 outwardly of the slot 39a and when operated downwardly, as later set forth, the projection 29 engages the cam 28a, and moves the latch 5 inwardly torelease the carrier 4.

3| indicates a hand operated device arranged inwardly oi the gripping members 9, i6, and operatively connected to the operating element I and link 39. The device 3l is preferably mounted to move endwise in a plane parallel to the wall la, the wall Ia having a slot through which the operating element I projects and moves downwardly to operate the signaling means. The upper end of the device 3l is preferably slidably supported in an opening Sla formed in a bracket 32 fixed to the top wall of the compartment A and extending inwardly therefrom. The lower end of the device is pivotally connected to the outer end of the link 30 to operate it and through the link to retract the latch and release the carrier for movement downwardly under the inuence of the springs 1. Intermediate its ends, the device 3I is provided with a pair of laterally extending spaced arms 33 (one being shown in Fig. 7) disposed above and below the operating element I, so that when the device 3| is operated downwardly the upper arm 33 engages with and operates the element I, whereas the lower arm 33 prevents the element I from being operated Without operating the device 3I. As the device 3i is connected to the element I and link Sti, the carrier 4 will be released simultaneously with the operation of the element I. The operating element I is normally biased upwardly by a spring (not shown) within the compartment. A spring 34 is also connected to the bracket 32 and operating device 3I to normally maintain the latter in elevated position, with its upper end in engagement with the bottom wall of the opening 3Ia. In this arrangement, the arms 33 are normally disposed in alinement with the element I, so that when the compartment A is swung to open position and again closed, the arms 33 are re-positicned in operative relation to the element I. The operating device 3| may be provided with an enlargement 3Ih or other suitable hand engaging means to facilitate operation of the device. The parts are positioned as shown in Figs. l and 5 and ready for turning in an alarm. In the event ol a fire or other emergency condition, the persen desiring to signal the central station opens the closure 3 (see Fig. 3) and grasps the enlargement SI and moves the device 3l downwardly, the effect or which is to operate the element I and release the carrier 4, and the latter in turn moves downwardly with a quick movement until the gripping member 9 engages the wrist a: of the persons hand (see dotted lines in Fig. 6)

In this movement of the member 9 downwardly, the dogs I5 ride the ratchets S', so that when the member 9 engages the persons wrist it is automatically locked against movement upwardly and in fixed relation to the gripping member IU, as shown in Fig. 4, with the persons wrist s: clamped between them, so that the person can only remove his hand by carrying with it the gripping members 8, I0 (see Fig. 15). moval of the hand with the gripping members is effected by initially slightly raising and tilting the gripping members, which operation disengages the pins 25 from the recesses 2li, and then tilting the members to a greater degree, as shown in Fig. 13, whereupon the hand and gripping members may be removed through the opening 2. As the disengagement of the pins 25 from the gripping member II frees the carrier l for further downward movement (see Fig. 13), I out away the opposite ends of the gripping member I0, as shown at I0' so that it may clear the pads 22 on the carrier side members 4a.

Due to the fact that the gripping members are clamped and locked to vthe wrist of the person operating the signaling means, he may be readily identified, since he must report to the central station or to some oliicial who is provided with a key to operate the locking means I2. Accordingly, where the signal means has been operated for malicious reasons, the person involved may be identified by the gripping members being clamped and locked to one of his wrists. As the gripping members are removable from the carrier The rei' and compartment A after operati-on of the sig- 'T5 naling means, the person is not locked to the compartments, but is free to return to the place of lire or other emergency condition.

The handle 3a on the closure 3 may be disposed in any desired position; however, if the handle is located as shown and the closure 3 is operated to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, a cam 4a: provided on the lower end of the rod c will engage the handle 3a and displace it out of the path of downward movement of the rod.

The rod fic of the carrier A moves downwardly through the opening 2b formed in the bottom wall of the compartment A when the carrier 4 released and is reset by manually pushing upwardly on the rod to permit the latch 5 to engage the shoulder 4c. While the gripping members 9, IB, may be inserted through the opening 2 and re-positioned on the carrier 4 without opening the compartment A, it is preferable to open the latter and re-position these members from the inside of the compartment. The department signailed may be provided with one or more extra sets of gripping members so that the signaling means and the identifying attachment may be set for a succeeding operation without waiting to locate the person who has made the previous emergency call.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changes in construction and videly differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

l. In an emergency signaling mechanisrmthe combination with a casing one wall ci which is formed with an opening and a signaling mechanisrn having an operating element mounted in said casing, of a carrier slidably mounted in said casing, a spring normally tending to move the carrier in one direction, a spring operated latch arranged to lock said carrier in set position with the spring under tension, a pair of relatively movable grip-pers, one thereof being removably seated on said carrier and detachabiy connected to a portion of said casing to permit movement of the carrier relative to said gripper and the other gripper engaging said carrier and spaced from the first mentioned gripper and movable with the carrier upon release thereof, said grippers being related to the walls of said opening to permit the hand of a person to project through or between them and arranged to disengage said carrier when operated into wrist engaging position for removal through said opening, 'means arranged to automatically lock the movable gripper to the nrst mentioned gripper when moved downwardly with the carrier, and means rearwardly of said grippers and operatively connected to said operating element and spring operated latch and arranged to actuate said element and latch, whereby said signaling mechanism is operated and said carrier released.

2. In an emergency signaling mechanism, the combination with a casing having a door formed with an opening and a signaling mechanism having an operating element mounted in said casing, of a carrier slidably mounted on said door, a spring normally tending to move the carrier in one direction, a spring operated latch on said door arranged to lock said carrier in set position with the spring ,under tension, a pair of relatively movable grippers, one thereof being removably seated on said carrier and detachably connected to a portion of said door to permit movement of the carrier relative to said gripper and the other gripper engaging said carrier and spaced from the rst mentioned gripper and movable with the carrier upon release thereof, said grippers being related to the walls of said opening to permit the hand of a person to project through or between them and arranged to disengage said carrier when operated into wrist engaging position for removal through said opening, means arranged to automatically lock the movable gripper to the first mentioned gripper when moved downwardly with the carrier, and means rearwardly of said grippers operatively connected to said operating element and spring operated latch and arranged to actuate said element and latch, whereby said signaling mechanism is operated and said carrier released.

3. In an eme'rgency signaling mechanism, the combination with a casing one wall of which is formed with an opening and a signaling mechanism having an operating element mounted in said casing, of a gripper removably mounted in said casing in relation to one side of said opening and formed with spaced guide Ways, a device slidably mounted in said casing, a gripper removably mounted on said device in relation to the other side of said opening and having ,legs slidable through said guide ways, a spring for operating said device in one direction to move the gripper carried thereby toward said rst mentioned gripper to grip the wrist of a person between it and the first mentioned gripper, a releasable spring operated latch for locking said device in a predetermined position with the gripper carried thereby spaced from said rst mentioned gripper with said spring under tension, to permit the hand of a person to project through or between said grippers, means within said first mentioned gripper and arranged to engage one of the legs of the movable gripper when said device is released and operated by saidspring to lock the movable gripper to the first mentioned gripper, and means rearwardly of said grippers and operatively connected to said operating clement and spring operated latch and arranged to actuate said element and latch, whereby said signaling mechanism is operated and said movable gripper is released.

4. In an emergency signaling mechanism, the combination with a casing having a door formed with an opening and a signaling mechanism having an operating element mounted in said casing, of a grip er removably mounted on said door in relation to one side of said opening and formed with spaced guide ways, a device slidably mounted on said door, a gripper removably mounted on said device in relation to the other side of said opening and having legs slidabie through said guide ways, a spring for operating said device in one direction to move the gripper carried thereby toward said first mentioned gripper to grip a persons wrist between it and said rst mentioned gripper, a releasable spring operated latch on said door for locking said device in a predetermined position with the gripper' carried thereby spaced from said first mentioned gripper with said spring under tension, to permit the hand of a person to project through or between said grippers, means within said rst mentioned gripper and arranged to engage one of the legs of the movable gripper when said device is released and operated by said spring to lock the movable gripper to the rst mentioned gripper, and means rearwardly of said grippers and operatively connected to said operating element and spring operated latch and arranged to actuate said element and latch, whereby said signaling mechanism is operated and said movable gripper is released.

5. A vmechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein said actuating means are mounted on said door and disengage said operating element when said door is opened.

6. In an emergency signaling mechanism, the combination with a casing one wall of which is formed with an opening and a signaling mechanism having an operating element mounted in said casing, of a pair of slidably connected, wrist gripping members, one of said members being removably connected to said casing at one side of said opening, a spring operated device slidable in said casing for removably carrying the other member and holding it in relation to the other side of said opening and arranged to move toward the rst mentioned member, a releasable latch for holding said device in operated position with said other member spaced from the rst mentioned member, means for locking said members together in wrist gripping position, and means rearwardly of said gripping members and operatively connected to said operating element and iatch and arranged to actuate said element and latch, whereby said signaling mechanism and gripping members are operated.

7. In an emergency signaling mechanism, the combination with a casing one wall of which is formed with an opening and a signaling mechanism mounted in said casing and provided with an operating element arranged in operative relation to said opening to permit access to said element by the hand of a person when turning in an alarm, of a carrier having lateral portions slidably mounted in said casing upon opposite sides of said opening and a seat related to the lower side of said opening, a spring normally tending to move lthe carrier in one direction, a latch for locking said carrier in set position with said spring under tension, arranged to be released by the operation of said operating element, a wrist gripping member removably mounted in said seat and detachably connected to the adjacent wall of said casing, a separate wrist gripping member slidably engaging said rst mentioned member and removably engaging said carrier when the latter is in set position and in spaced relation to said iirst mentioned member and movable with said carrier upon release of the latter, and means for locking said separate wrist gripping member to said first mentioned member upon movement thereof with the carrier into wrist gripping position.

8. In an emergency signaling mechanism, the combination of a casing forming inner and outer compartments in hinged together relation, a signaling means having an operating element in said inner compartment, a device on one of said compartments operatively conected to said element for operating it, the front Wall of said outer compartment being formed with an opening through which a persons hand may be extended to move said device, spaced upper and lower wrist gripping members removably mounted in said outer compartment in relation to said opening and between it and said device, one of Said members being formed with spaced guide ways and the other member having legs slidable through said guide ways, a spring operated device removably engaging said slidable member and arranged to move it in one direction to grip the Wrist of a person between it and the rst mentioned member, a releasable latch for locking said device in set position with the adjacent gripping member spaced from the other gripping member and With its operating spring under tension, means Within said other gripping and arranged to engage one of the legs of the movable gripper when said device is released and operated by its spring to lock the slidable gripping member to the other gripping member, and means rearwardly of said grippers and operatively connected to said operating element and said latch and arranged to actuate said element and latch, whereby said signaling means is operated and said slidable gripping member is released.

ANDREW M. ZAMBORSKY. 

